Salutation

11 [1]Simon Peter , a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ , To those who have received a faith of the same [2]kind as ours , [3]by the righteousness of our God and Savior , Jesus Christ : 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord ;

Make Your Calling and Election Sure

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness , through the true knowledge of Him who called us [4]by His own glory and [5]excellence . 4 [6]For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises , so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature , having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust .

5 Now for this very reason also , applying all diligence , in your faith supply moral [7]excellence , and in your moral excellence , knowledge , 6 and in your knowledge , self-control , and in your self-control , perseverance , and in your perseverance , godliness , 7 and in your godliness , brotherly kindness , and in your brotherly kindness , love . 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing , they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ . 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted , having forgotten e his purification from his former sins . 10 Therefore , brethren , be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things , you will never e e stumble ; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

12 Therefore , I will always be ready to remind you of these things , even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 13 I consider it right , as long as I am in this earthly dwelling , to stir you up by way of reminder ,

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Peter 1:1-13

Commentary on 2 Peter 1:1-11

(Read 2 Peter 1:1-11)

Faith unites the weak believer to Christ, as really as it does the strong one, and purifies the heart of one as truly as of another; and every sincere believer is by his faith justified in the sight of God. Faith worketh godliness, and produces effects which no other grace in the soul can do. In Christ all fulness dwells, and pardon, peace, grace, and knowledge, and new principles, are thus given through the Holy Spirit. The promises to those who are partakers of a Divine nature, will cause us to inquire whether we are really renewed in the spirit of our minds; let us turn all these promises into prayers for the transforming and purifying grace of the Holy Spirit. The believer must add knowledge to his virtue, increasing acquaintance with the whole truth and will of God. We must add temperance to knowledge; moderation about worldly things; and add to temperance, patience, or cheerful submission to the will of God. Tribulation worketh patience, whereby we bear all calamities and crosses with silence and submission. To patience we must add godliness: this includes the holy affections and dispositions found in the true worshipper of God; with tender affection to all fellow Christians, who are children of the same Father, servants of the same Master, members of the same family, travellers to the same country, heirs of the same inheritance. Wherefore let Christians labour to attain assurance of their calling, and of their election, by believing and well-doing; and thus carefully to endeavour, is a firm argument of the grace and mercy of God, upholding them so that they shall not utterly fall. Those who are diligent in the work of religion, shall have a triumphant entrance into that everlasting kingdom where Christ reigns, and they shall reign with him for ever and ever; and it is in the practice of every good work that we are to expect entrance to heaven.

Commentary on 2 Peter 1:12-15

(Read 2 Peter 1:12-15)

We must be established in the belief of the truth, that we may not be shaken by every wind of doctrine; and especially in the truth necessary for us to know in our day, what belongs to our peace, and what is opposed in our time. The body is but a tabernacle, or tent, of the soul. It is a mean and movable dwelling. The nearness of death makes the apostle diligent in the business of life. Nothing can so give composure in the prospect, or in the hour, of death, as to know that we have faithfully and simply followed the Lord Jesus, and sought his glory. Those who fear the Lord, talk of his loving-kindness. This is the way to spread the knowledge of the Lord; and by the written word, they are enabled to do this.